The elder statesman of NZ Racing achieved many milestones, none more so then three Wellington Cups on the great racehorse, Castletown

Noel Harris, also known as "Harry" or "NGH", is a former jockey in Thoroughbred racing in New Zealand. Harris rode his first winner at Foxton on May 16, 1970, and has ridden a further 2167 winners in New Zealand to be one of just six jockeys to have ridden more than 2000 winners on home soil. Noel joined the exclusive '2000 club' when winning on Beau Casual at Te Rapa in 2008. He is notable for having ridden 2,167 raceday winners in New Zealand which is the fourth highest total behind Chris Johnson, David Walsh and Lance O'Sullivan, and he has won the jockeys' premiership in both New Zealand and Singapore. He spent 45 years in the saddle and didn't retire until the age of 60.

Noel Harris was apprenticed at Woodville to his father, John (Jock) Harris, who was a leading jockey both on the flat and over jumps before becoming a horse trainer. Jock's oldest three sons, John, Des and Noel, were all leading apprentice jockeys, topping the New Zealand apprentice table for six years in succession from 1967-68. Noel rode his first winner aboard Phar Lace at Foxton on 16 May 1970 and took out the 1971–72 apprentice jockeys' premiership at 18-years-old before sharing the national jockeys' premiership with David Peake the following year. As an 18 year old Noel rode the Jock Harris-trained Glengowan to a close second behind Gala Supreme in the 1973 Melbourne Cup. 34 years later as an elder statesman, he rode Princess Coup in the 2007 Cup as the oldest jockey. His other rides on the first Tuesday in November included Kiwi's 4th placing in the 1986 Melbourne Cup and Castletown's 3rd in 1992.

Harris achieved 34 Group One wins, including almost all of the major races in New Zealand, and 8 in Australia, including the 1988 Cox Plate on (Our) Poetic Prince. Harris shares the record for the most 3200-metre cup wins in New Zealand with Bob Skelton. His tally consists of three Wellington Cups on Castletown and four New Zealand Cups to go with an Auckland Cup treble. His other top victories over long and grand career, include NZ 2000 Guineas aboard Kingdom Bay, 1990 Bayer Classic on Eagle Eye, 1990 Sydney Cup with King Aussie, 1995 NZ 1000 Guineas, Clear Rose, 1999 Auckland Cup, Irish Chance, 2000 NZ Derby, Hail, 2002 New Zealand Cup on Mike, 2003 Auckland Cup, Bodie, and the 2007 New Zealand Cup, aboard Everswindell.

The 60-year-old donned the silks for the final time when he partners Pondarosa Miss in the Gr.1 Fiber Fresh New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes at Te Aroha.

Noel retired in 2015 and became a National Riding mentor for apprentice jockeys in the North Island.